Novel Coronavirus Disease
Reports: New coronavirus strain from Britain identified in Nigeria
A new strain of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that grounded the global economy for all of 2020, has been identified in Nigeria. The mutant variant was first identified in the United Kingdom (UK) and has caused several countries to ban flights from the UK. It has also led the UK government to announce a slew of fresh restrictions and lockdowns. Newsmen report that this new strain has been identified in Nigeria by scientists at the Africa Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), at the Redeemers University in Ede, Osun State. In a publication in Virological, a website for the global Genomics community, the scientists say they found the same variant “lineage B.1.1.7” in Osun State, Southwest Nigeria since August 3, 2020, when the first sample was collected...
Private labs take over coronavirus testing in Lagos
Lagos State Government has announced the take over of COVID-19 testing by a consortium of health professionals and private laboratories. Commissioner for Health Prof Akin Abayomi, who made the disclosure during a press conference today at Alausa, Ikeja, added that that test for the novel coronavirus disease remains free of charge at various government centres. While putting the cost of the test at government facilities at between N40,000 and N50,400, Abayomi said the inclusion of the private consortium in the testing infrastructure was part of the moves to expand the state government’s COVID-19 response capacity. He added that the accreditation of seven private laboratories will boost its testing capacity and three private hospitals for case management. According to him, the government com...
FRSC tasks Ogun residents to adhere to government’s coronavirus measures
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun, on Friday, reiterated the need for residents to adhere strictly to stay-at-home order towards curbing further spread of the novel coronavirus disease. The Sector Commander of the Corps, Mr. Clement Oladele, gave the advice in an interview in Ota, Ogun. Oladele urged strict adherence to government order so that the lockdown directive of staying at home would be successful. “FRSC wants to implore people to persevere so that we can collectively defect the virus. “I commend people of the state for their high compliance with the use of face masks. “There is still need for more enlightenment, especially for few people, who are not using their own face mask, to comply,’’ NAN quotes him as saying. Oladele also urged the people to embrace the good hygie...
